Tripod structure



Sept. 22, 1953 Filed Dec. 17, 1948 C. J. CADWELL ETAL TRIPOD STRUCTURE 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTORS Clarence 1I advell Sept. 22, 1953 c. J. CADWELI. ETAL 2,653,000

TRIPOD STRUCTURE Filed Dec. 1'?, 1948 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 I N VEN TORS f @555222,69 d Cardwell raw arr/son Patented Sept. 22, 1953 2,053,000 'ramon STRUCTURE Clarence J. Cadwell, Carpenteria, and Frank M. Adamson, Los Angeles, Calif., assignors to The Cadwell Corporation, Beverly Hills, Calif., a corporation of California Application December 17, 1948, Serial No. 65,895

1 Claim. l .This invention relates to a base for a tripod and it is a particular object of the invention to provide a device of this kind which can be readily but effectively held in extended adjustment for use.

vIt is also an object of the invention to provide a base of this kind including hingedly mounted legs and wherein is provided means for locking such legs either in extended or compacted position.

rlhe invention consists in the details of construction and in the combination and arrangement of the several parts of our improved base for a tripod whereby certain advantages are attained, as will be hereinafter more fully set forth.

In order that our invention may be better understood, we will now proceed to describe the same with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a view in perspective of a tripod constructed in accordance with an embodiment of the invention with the legs extended into working position;

Figure 2 is an enlarged fragmentary view in top plan of the device as shown in Figure 1, with the rotating holding member in a neutral position;

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken substantially on the line 3-3 of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a view in perspective of the device compacted or folded with an applied column in fragment;

Figure 5 is a view similar to Figure 2 with the holding member in position to lock the lock compacted or folded as shown in Figure 4, the head being in section;

Figure 6 is a view partly in section and partly in elevation of the outer end portion of a leg; and f. f

Figure 7 is a view similar to Figure 6 but illustrating another embodiment.

As illustrated in the accompanying drawings H denotes a head having outstanding and radially disposed lugs l equi-distantly spaced around the head and herein disclosed as .three in number.

Associated with each of the lugs I is a supporting leg L of desired length and preferably of channel formation.

The outer extremity of the leg L has pivotally engaged therewith a ground engaging foot F. The outer extremity of the leg L also has pivotally connected therewith, as at 2, an end portion of an elongated penetrating member 3 which can be used when desired lin lieu of the foot F. The pivot 2 is closely adjacent to the outer end of the leg L so that when the member 3 is not in use, it can be folded back close against the leg L and housed within the channel of the leg. The length of the member 3 is such that when fully extended it can readily and effectually engage the surface upon which the base may set when in use.

The inner or upper end of each of the legs L is provided with the extended spaced flat ears 4 between which a lug l is received and a suitable pivot member 5 is disposed through the ears 4 and lug I whereby the leg may be swung outwardly or downwardly into working position or swung upwardly or inwardly into compacted position.

The outer edge faces a of the ears 4 are on an angle with respect to the longitudinal axis of the leg L in accordance with the desired angle the leg L assumes when fully extended with respect to the head H.

After the legs L have been extended the holding member M is rotated bringing the outstanding fiat arms t thereof into a position overlying the legs i and the edges a of the ears 4 whereby the legs L are effectively maintained in desired extended or working position.

The member I-I has freely disposed through its axial center a shank 1 threading into the central portion of the member M.

The face of the head H over which is disposed the member M may be called the top face and the extremity of the shank 'l remote from the mem.- ber lVI carries an operating head 8 having contact with the bottom or underface of the head H.

After the member M has been manually adjusted to bring the arms 6 thereof into holding position with respect to the ears 4, upon proper rotation of the shank l, the member M will be brought to tight clamping engagement with the head H and thereby hold such member against turning into released position until after the clamping action has been released upon retrograde rotation of the shank 1.

Similar ears 4 associated with the lugs l are provided with the notches 9 so positioned that when the legs L are swung back into close position with respect to the column C, the notches will be in such position to partially receive the arms 6 of the member M upon requisite turning of such member. After the arms 6 have been received within the notches 9 the shank 1 will be rotated to bring the member M into desired clamping Contact with the head H to hold the arms 6 in suitably locked position.

The member M is herein disclosed as provided with an outstanding circular flange l0 with which is adapted to be detachably engaged, as by threading, the column C. This column C may be `for .any .purpose desired `such as a .support fora afcher seat, table vrorthe like.

From the foregoing description it is thought to be obvious that a base for a tripod constructed in accordance with my invention is particularly well adapted for use by reason of the convenience and facility with which it may be assembled and operated.

We claim:

In a collapsible tripod, a circular plate, lugs extending radially in equidistantly spaced relation from the edge of said plate,'legs correspon'ding in number to the number of said slugs, 1a.

pair of spaced ears formed at the top end of each leg and straddled ovei` .the complemental of the lugs, a vpivot element passing through said ears and .the lugs straddled thereby, a second circular `vplate mounted for turning movements relative to the iirst Iplate, a screw element passing upwardly through -both :of said plates, and

flat arms corresponding in number to the iiuiii ber of said legs extending radially from the edge of said second plate, one of each pair of said ears having a notch in its rear edge adapted to be engaged by a side edge of a complemental of said arms to lock the legs in norma-1 positions of use, when the second ,plate .is `turned .on said lscrew, said .legs being swung into upwardly co1- lapsed positions when said arms are released .from said notches.

' CLARENCE J. CADWELL.

FRANK. M. ADAMSON.

'References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED .STATES PATENTS Number Name Date A563,196 Mack-lin July 7, 1896 588,552 Brownell Aug. 24, 1897 f8202 McLeod May 22, 1906 2,204,013 Gaidos June 11, 1940 :2,297,927 `Whitman Oct. 6, Y1942 244.03m Charley -May'fi, 19,48

FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 470,579.0 Great Britain Aug. .23, 1937 

